5 Key Differences Between Cement, Concrete, and Mortar

There are plenty of popular construction materials out there that are fit for a project. Three of them are cement, concrete, and mortar. They are used interchangeably - which can trigger confusion among those who are DIY enthusiasts. 

Nevertheless, it is important to know the key differences between cement, concrete, and mortar. This guide will go over five of them so you know how to distinguish between one or the other. Each material has their own applications and unique characteristics.

Ready to find out what they are? Let’s get started, shall we?

1. Composition and ingredients

First and foremost, we take a look at the composition and ingredients of each material. So let’s take a look at how each material is made:

• Cement: This is a fine powder that is made from a mixture of limestone, shells, clay, and silica sand. The mixture goes through calcination, which is a high-temperature process inside a cement kiln. Once complete, it will result in a powder that will form a binding past when mixed with water. Over time, it will harden.
• Concrete: Aside from cement, and water, concrete uses aggregates such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone. Sometimes, admixtures and additives are included. This will create a material that is robust and durable - which can mostly be used for all kinds of construction applications.
• Mortar: This material is a paste created from cement, water, and fine aggregates like sand. This will be used to bind building blocks or stones together, ensuring stability and strength. Mortar is typically used in masonry projects.

2. Functions and applications

Functionality and application will always be important for any three of these materials. Let’s see how they are best functional and when they are typically applied:

• Cement: This material acts like a binding agent and can be used in foundational materials. This can be useful when making concrete or mortar. However, cement in its pure form is not always used for construction applications.
• Concrete: Because of its versatility, concrete can be useful for a wide variety of applications. In fact, it can be useful in all kinds of projects including skyscrapers, bridge building, and more. Because of its ability to withstand compression, it’s one of the more popular choices for most construction projects.
• Mortar: Mortar is kind of like glue. The only difference is that it’s used for masonry units. It can keep brick and stone together ensuring the best cohesion and stability. It’s essential to ensure a strong bond between individual masonry units.

3. Strength and durability

If there is one critical aspect to take seriously, it’s important to make sure these materials are strong and durable for the long haul. Your construction project must always be strong, stable, and able to withstand the long-term. Let’s take a look now at each material based on their own strength and durability attributes:

• Cement: When it comes to strength, pure cement isn’t known for it. However, it gets stronger whenever it’s mixed with water to form that paste that turns into a binding agent. Nonetheless, it will be necessary for both concrete and mortar if they intend to keep a strong hold and last a long time.
• Concrete: As mentioned earlier, concrete has the ability to handle compression. For that reason, it’s durable enough to handle heavy loads constantly. Thanks to the addition of aggregates, concrete proves its worth as a tough construction material. If it is cured properly, concrete structures can withstand all kinds of environmental conditions.
• Mortar: Mortar doesn’t possess the same amount of strength as concrete. However, it is strong enough to hold bricks and stones together, making it excellent for stability and durability for masonry structures. 

4. Consistency and texture

This is often applicable to how it influences their application methods. All three have a different consistency and texture when they are either dried or mixed. Let’s take a look now at each of the materials and how they look and feel in different states - dry or wet:

• Cement: When dry, it’s a fine powder with a similar consistency to flour. Cement is never used in dry form. It is mixed with water to create a paste-like texture. 
• Concrete: With the inclusion of aggregates, concrete is thicker and coarser compared to its cement counterpart. This can be poured into molds or formwork - which can allow for curing or forming a solid and durable structure.
• Mortar: Compared to concrete, mortar is smooth and fine. For that reason, it can be great as an adhesive for masons. The application process should be done using a trowel, albeit using a thin layer.

5. Setting time and curing

The setting time and curing process is considered a crucial aspect that will impact the useability and performance of any of the three materials. As such, it takes the right project to choose one of these materials so you can use them properly. Let’s take a look at the setting time and curing of each one:

• Cement: Cement paste will set and harden over time through a process called hydration. The setting time can be influenced by several factors including temperature and water-cement ratio. Curing should be essential as it can help develop the cement’s strength.
• Concrete: Concrete has a specific setting time. During this, it needs to be properly placed and finished. Curing is critical because it needs to maintain an adequate level of moisture. This will allow the concrete to reach its maximum durability and strength.
• Mortar: Mortar has a faster set time compared to concrete. Not only that, it requires proper curing in order to achieve the optimal amount of strength. The process will help prevent the mortar from drying out too fast.

PermuTrade knows building materials. Talk to us today

When it comes to building materials like cement, concrete, and mortar - PermuTrade is quite familiar with them. They also know that they can be useful in all kinds of applications. No wonder why they are some of the most popular physical commodities on the market.

Want to learn more about how important they are? Contact PermuTrade today and we’ll answer your questions.